Ipsy: Pink Is My Signature Color

 It's that time of the month again.  I received my second IPSY bag, and this one was better than the first.  The theme of the month was Pretty In #IPSY Pink. Pink has always been my favorite color. Many of you may believe that BLACK is my favorite color, but that just isn't true.  Black is just more slimming. Dark colors make thing look smaller, lighter colors make things look bigger. Again I got 5 samples. Some of the samples were full sized.  This subscription is definitely worth the $10 a month that I pay. Because I paid the entire year, I got some $$ off. This month I actually know a few of the companies I got samples from. What's really cool is that my friend Ryan Chang also purchased a subscription. We compare the items in our bag every month.  I have to try my hardest to not peak at my goodies beforehand.  
  

  

The bag this month is totally adorable.  It's all things feminine, pink and black and hearts. The front of the bag is beaded and has an emoji letter. The back of the bag is a shiny hot pink. I love this bag and will use it all of the time. I really like this bag better than January's.  Links to all companies are below. (CF) = Cruelty Free 

The first product that I got was a lip pencil from the brand Chella Skin Care.  This is a brand that I haven't heard of. The color is Passionate Pink.  When I first pulled out the pencil, I thought it was going to be too orange for me.  I was pleasantly  surprised by the color.  It was definitely a passionate pink. I think this color is better suited for spring or summer, but with February temps in the 90's, it's pretty much summer in Southern California right now. No seasons for us, that's for sure! (El Nino is El Lame-O). I regress, the retail price of the pencil is $18 and I believe the brand is cruelty free. 

This is my new kick, I will no longer purchase brands that test on animals. This color is actually very pretty. I'm very sensitive to smells and this pencil has a smell, I can't really place it.  I only smell it when I'm putting on the lipstick, so that's good. 
Chella Skin Care (CF)

My favorite product

The next product I got in my bag was my absolute FAVORITE this month!  It's the Anti-Aging Lip and Hand Polish, by Jersey Shore Cosmetics.  OMG, I'm going to be sad when this is used up. It's a Vanilla Bean sugar scrub. The smell is divine! It reminds me of cookies baking, Snikerdoodle cookies baking (my favorite cookie). I know that this is for the lips and hands, but no, I'm only using it on my lips and I do lick them after. This products takes off the dry skin very well.  I got a 1 oz. sample, right now a set of 2 1 oz. tubes retail for $30 and they're on sale, they're usually $50. I thought they had a Strawberry flavor too.  I'm all about this company. They are EVERYTHING free, paraben, chemical, all things free and they are cruelty free. This company looks amazing and very healthy. Purchase from this company! I probably will, maybe not the lip scrub. I can make my own version at home. 
Jersey Shore Cosmetics (CF)

The third product I got was a Paula Dorf Baby Eyes Enhancer. Apparently this is for eyes or lips. Those who know me, know that this isn't happening. Eyes, lips and face just don't mix. Yuck, yuck, yuck. Anything that goes near my eyeball will not come near my mouth. I'm not a huge fan of this. It is supposed to open up my eyes and is supposed to match my skin tone on my waterline. I remember using a white eyeliner to do this. I'll stick with the white even though this is more natural

looking. It really just reminds me of a concealer pencil. I used it twice so far and I'm not impressed. A .4 oz. pencil retails for $20. The site does say that their products are not tested on animals.  For that, she gets a thumbs up. I just won't use this product often enough to make it a worthwhile purchase.  
Paula Dorf Cosmetics  (CF)

Another product that I will use all the time is my Luxie Rose Gold Define Brush #221. The handle is pink! I love this brush. So far I've used it to define my eyebrows, but it can also be used along the bottom lash line for a smokey look.  These brushes are cruelty free. This brush retails for $12. Already my bag has paid for itself and then some.
Luxie Beauty (CF)

 The final thing I got was from Smashbox. Of all of the companies, Smashbox is the one that I know the best.  I've purchased products from them in the past. I got a sample of the new Photo Finish Primer Oil. This product confuses me a bit. I'm not sure how I feel about using oil as a primer. I tried this product twice, over the weekend, under my foundation. One thing I do like is how moisturized my face felt. This is obviously for someone with dry skin. I wouldn't be able to use this product in the summer, when my skin is more oily. I've noticed recently, my skin is on the drier side. Foundation just seems to settle on my pores. That didn't happen when I used this. I did try it with a light, liquid foundation. I'm worried to try it with my BareMinerals Foundation Powder, it might make my face look muddy. I will not purchase this product. Smashbox is not cruelty free. I will use the sample that was given to me. I was recently given a sample of a Smashbox mascara. I liked how my lashes looked, but I will not buy from Smashbox because they test on animals. This primer retails for $42. 
Smashbox (NOT CF)

All in all, I loved my bag this month. I can't wait to see what March holds!

Cruelty Free Makeup and More

This post is dedicated to my daddy, who we lost on 2/7/2014.  He loved all creatures (even bugs!) and was the best man who ever walked the earth!  

I love animals. I love makeup. I don't like, when animals are being tested on, and I don't like companies that test on animals. This year I am making the goal of going cruelty free. I've already been looking into products and brands that do not test on animals, household and beauty. My research has led me to quite a few revelations, some good, some bad.

First off, the bad........ I've already nixed M.A.C.. I hate their customer service and guess what?  They test on animals! They used to be cruelty free and their slogan used to be "tested on models, not on animals". They no longer are cruelty free.  M.A.C. sells their products in China, and in China, the government makes it mandatory to test all products on the poor helpless bunnies in their testing facilities. These poor babies are waiting in cages, in fear, and what happens you ask?.  Makeup companies spray/put horrible things in their eyes and God only knows what else is being done.  I can not stand behind brands that torment defenseless little animals.

My love, Mia

I still have a few M.A.C. products that I have to finish this year, some lipsticks and other things. I spent money on these products and am not going to let them go to waste.  I'm disappointed because I do like their eyeshadow primer in Painterly (and I'm almost out) and I like their M.A.C. Fix Plus. But, until they stop selling in China, I will not contribute $$$$ to their animal testing.

Another bad... drugstore bad. Maybelline and Revlon. I have some products that I bought and I still need to finish, but once I'm done, that's it. My money will not go to these companies anymore. It's a shame because I love the Maybelline Color Sensation lipstick, mascara and eyeliner.  Time to use new lines of products. NYX matte lipstick is an amazing alternative to the Maybelline Color Sensation lipstick.

My love, Samwise Gamgee

Ok, now sorta bad/sorta good?.... Urban Decay, NYX, BareMinerals and NARS. Four brands that I love a lot! While these four lines don't test on animals and from my understanding, are not sold in China, their parent companies L'Oreal and Shiseido do. Again I have a couple of L'Oreal products that I have to finish this year. One beauty blogger says to buy from the lines that do not test on animals, that way the parent companies can see that they do not have to sell their products in China and can still make money.  I will continue to buy, Urban Decay, BareMinerals and NARS, but I'm a bit conflicted with this decision.  Am I being a hypocrite? I want to show my support for the lines which are cruelty free and that our voices are heard.

As I was in Ulta today, the sales lady, Erin, and I were talking about this very subject.  She said that L'Oreal is moving in the direction of being completely, 100% cruelty free.  I'm sending out positive thoughts that they do travel down this route.

Who would test on this sweet face?

The good.....There are some amazing, reasonably priced, drugstore brands that are cruelty free. For example E.L.F., Makeup Academy, Wet n' Wild and Physicians Formula are all cruelty free. Wet n' Wild is made in China, but not sold there. All I see are red flags with this one! Physicians Formula is organic too.

The good....High end.  My favorite high end brand that does not test on animals AT ALL is Too Faced. I think their products are made with cocoa powder and they smell delicious.  I don't own any of their eyeshadow palettes because I'm working on my Gwen Stefani, Urban Decay Eyeshadow Palette.  Their melted lipsticks are PHENOMENAL!!

There is a brand of make up that is a local company, right here is Los Angeles, actually I think they are headquartered in Oxnard, California. It's called ColourPop.  Not only is the brand reasonably priced and is local, they are also cruelty free! The lipsticks and eyeshadows are, I think like, $5 a piece.  As far as I know this brand can only be bought online, which is not my favorite way of purchasing makeup. I am definitely going to check this company out! I love supporting local businesses. Please don't ever sell out.

Speaking of selling out..... The Body Shop. What a disappointment you are. You too were bought out by L'Oreal.  I worked for The Body Shop when Anita was still alive.  She must be turning over in her grave right now, thinking only bad thoughts. I have no words.  To even be associated with a company that tests on animals...L'Oreal (they seem to own a lot!).

This isn't just about makeup.  I am now ONLY going to buy cruelty free household cleaning products and body/hair products as well. You can find a bunch at Target. I heard their own brand (is it Up-Up?) is also cruelty free.

Did you say 'Cookie?"

I will not check on the PETA website.  If you don't know already, I am NOT a fan of PETA.  They kill "euthanize" many of their shelter animals. My dog Mia wrote a disapproving  letter to PETA a few years ago, explaining that she loves her life as a domesticated doggy.  If you'd like to read her letter, here's the link to that post:
http://jonellemariefariaedrosolano.blogspot.com/2010/08/applying-for-job-at-peta.html

No one can tell me that rubbing a lipstick on a rats face can determine if a lipstick is safe for human use.  We're not rats. What works for one person may not work for another.  I'm severely allergic to Penicillin. They tested that on animals for years.  It makes me sick to my stomach thinking about the agony that these poor animals must go through, and it's NOT for our benefit......

For a complete list of cruelty brands, beauty and household, check out these links below. There are SO many brands to choose from, so make good choices!!

Sources and links:

Cruelty-Free Kitty
http://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/start-here/

Logical Harmony---but they list Lime Crime as being cruelty free and I've heard it isn't. So be careful and research
http://www.logicalharmony.net/#axzz3zPB8I1bF

BlogHer
http://www.blogher.com/how-shop-cruelty-free-target

Leaping Bunny
https://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/LeapingBunny

I have a great quote, but I can't read who said it, and I want to clarify, it wasn't me, "Compassion for animals is intimately connected with the goodness of character; and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man" 

Sam and Mia say, "Don't test on animals!

Shop cruelty free!"